Apparatus for cleaning vehicles



Dec. 25, 1956 w. J. MORISON ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VEHICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1953 Dec. 25, 1956 w. J. MORISON ETA]. 2,774,980

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VEHICLES Filed Sept. 8; 1955 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /6 L YT M I; 'T' Mg 1 w :1 a ea 31 Rn [J Q1} .l. W CQJHII: I I I $1 1:1 M H W 3 1: h m K R & 1:

| {H L "In I I INVENToRs Dec. 25, 1956 w. J. MORISON EI'AL 2,

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VEHICLES Filed Sept. 8, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 kw M @N M% 0% NM R Dec. 25, 1956 w J 0 so EI'AL 2,774,980

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VEHICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 8, 1953 P IA/VE/VTOR 5 w HTTORNEYJ Dec. 25, 1956 w. J. MORISON ET AL 2,774,980

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING VEHICLES Filed Sept. 8, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 111 1 12 JJb'ZJA 155 111112111 United States Patent 2,774,980 APPARATUS FOR. CLEANING. VEHICLES William John Morison, Chelmsford, and Ronald Forteseue Cronin, Hollingbury, Brighton, England; said" Cronin assignor to Stratstone Limited, London, England, a

British company Application september 8, 1953,. Serial No. 379,034.

Claims priority, application Great- Britain September 1 5, 1952 18 Claims.. (Cl; -21),

This invention. relatesto apparatus for cleaning vehicles.

and is morev particularly concerned: with. such apparatus of the kind (hereinafter referred tolas thekind described) comprising a carrier comprising two. horizontally spaced limbs, between which a vehicle may bereceived for cleaning and which each carry one or more cleaning devices, and at least one tie member connecting the two spaced limbs at or near one pair ofcorresponding ends: of thetwo spaced. limbs for maintaining the two spaced limbs in close relation to the vehicle so that the cleaning devices may act thereon; and suspension. means by which the carrier is suspended from a, superstructure lying above the level. of the top of the vehicleand which are operable to. effect vertical movements of thecarrier while the cleaning devices. act on the: vehicle; in which apparatus the length of the or each tie. member may be varied to vary the separation of the two spacedlimbs.

Apparatus of the kind; described is. disclosed in; United.

States Patent No. 2,583,703. In that specification the cleaningdeyices are wiper devices.

It is an object of the invention to. provide: improved apparatus of. the kind described, which may be readily employed for cleaning vehicles. ('e.. g. motor-vans) having any width or length within a; continuous range of widths or lengths lessthan a maximum.

The invention providesapparatus of the; kind. described, in. which the. tie member or members is or. are; of. continuously variable length. and comprises or comprise: means urging the two spaced limbs. towards one another, which apparatus comprises holding means for holding the two spaced; limbs apart, against the action of the urging means, in relative positions in which they have: a maximum distance of separation, detector. means: for detecting the presence of a vehicle between the two. spaced-- limbs, meansoperated by the detector means to render the. holding means inoperative; so that the. two. spaced limbs may adopt a lesser relative distance; of separation; determined by the vehicle between them, and-means, for m ving the. two spaced limbs relatively apart to; their said relative. positions of maximum. separation. and-f0r rendering. the holding means operative. when the carrier. moves to a position, beyond a vertical extremity of the vehicle.

Preferably the holding; means; comprise an overcentred toggle mechanism, the detector means. comprise a feeler armpivoted to. thecarrier; androt-atableabouttis pivot toand; from a; detectingzpositionpinwhich ittprojeets partly across the.- space; between-the two, spaced: limbsso as to engage avehicle when the carrier is moved vertically from beyond avertical. extremity of the vehicle: toreceive the. vehicle between the two: spacedlirnbs and: to be rotated aboutits pivot by-such. engagement, and: there. are provided means. connecting the; feeler arm. to: the

toggle mechanism so that on, rotation of. the arm. by engagement of the; vehicle; as aforesaid the; toggle is broken, which coimecting; means; include a clutchv be tween he. e r andv he to le mechan m; means for. disrengaging thev clutch. after the. toggle hasv been 2,774,980 Patented Dec. 25, 1956 ice arm: as aforesaid after thetogglehas been broken. One

member of the clutch may be carried' by the feeler arm for rotation therewith about: its pivot and thecam means may act to disengage the clutch by moving the feeler arm axially of its: pivot against the action of a spring. Means, e.. g. a spring; may be provided torotate the feeler arm about its pivot out of engagement with the vehicle while the: clutch is disengaged. The re-setti'ng means may comprise a ramp. orlikeabutmentarrangedfor engagement by the feeler arm, on movement of'the carrier: beyond. a. vertical: extremity of the vehicle, to rotate; feeler arm to its-id'etecting'position. The clutch may be: a; dog clutch: constructed and arranged so that the projection on projections; of: one member thereof engage with the; slot or slots of the. other member to re-engage the: Clutch. Where the. feeler, armhas been rotated: by theramp: to; bringthe: projection. or projections into align mentw'kth the slot: or-slots, the continued: rotation thereafter of. the feelerarm, towards. its. detecting position operating the. toggle mechanism to cause relative movement ofthe; two: spaced: limbs; to. assume their said maxim is anceofi, separation and to. remake. the toggle i. e. to; bring it into, its over-centred condition in which itactsae at strut preventing relative. movement of the two.

spacedlimbs towardsonezanother; means being provided:

to: render the cam means ineffective during: the rotation of the fieeler arm; by the; re-setting means to. permit reengagement t he lu ch a taforesaid'.

The suspensiimt means are preferably attached to the. two spaced, limbs: by attachment: means which permit movement of the two spaced limbs, in the direction of separation. thereoh, relative to the lower ends of; the suspension means;

rigid members; QQnnected tothe; two, spaced; limbsbv conmeeting means which: permit the said rigid member or members to move; longitudinally; relative to at; least; one of the two spaced limbs, to'provide, the aforesaid con.- tinuous. variation. in. length, the rigid. member or members. constituting a crosstl-imb extending; between the. two spaced. limbs,, and: the two. cross-limbs. being at: or. near the. opposite ends, of the two spaced. limbs, respectively. The. connecting: means may," comprise wheels (e. g-.. c.011- stitutedby roller, bearings), and tracks along which the. wheels. are onstrained: to. run. preferably also provided on one or both of the cross: limbs, and are preferably provided along the full length of the crossliuab, from oneofthespaced limbs; to the other, even; when the. tworspacecl limbs; have their'ma-ximum, separation. One. or more ofv the cleaning deviceson. the or each crossrlimb may lie; beyond the: end of one. of the. twosptuzectlimbs-whenv the two: spaced limbs have a separation; less; thantthei-rz maximum separation;

A- specific construction.of:'apparatus. for cleaning vehicles andembodying; the invention willznow be described byway-of example,-,.and.with reference to the accompany ing drawings; ,inwhichz;

Figures 1. is aazperspective view: oft-he-apparatus,

Figure 2 is;-a.vi e.w of the-frontend of the-carrier,

Figure 3 is a sectional-viewcf; the-front end; of the carrier, .onthe-lineaz oisFigure 2,;

Figure.- 4 is a" side-view of. there: end" of :one; side: of the carrier,

preferably provided. and each, is, preferably partlyconstitutedtby all or part ofone or more Cleaning devices: are:

3 Figure 5 is a detail view of the means for suspending the carrier,

Figure 6 is a detail view of mechanism associated with the feeler arm,

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line ure 6,

Figure 8 is a plan view of the carrier embodying an alternative form of detector means; and

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modification of the carrier shown in Figures 1 to 7 in which the carrier is adapted to clean vehicles of different lengths.

This apparatus is a modification of that described and illustrated in United States Patent No. 2,583,703.

In this example the cleaning devices are in the form of fiat brushes 37 extending in diametrical planes from shafts 30 on which they are carried, and alternate brushes have their said diametrical planes spaced at substantially 90 around those shafts.

7-7 of Fig- The front tie member 26 comprises two rigid'fiat rectangular braced frame members 11, 12 overlapping longitudinally. The frame 11 is about twice as long as the frame 12; the frame 11 being attached by one end to the front end of side limb 20, and the frame 12 being attached by one end to the front end of side limb 22. The two frames 11, 12 are secured together by means of six wheels 13 on the front face of the frame 11 (three spaced along near its upper edge and three spaced along near its lower edge) which engage within U-section tracks 14 secured to the upper and lower edges of the rear face of the frame 12, the tracks 14 having the mouths of the U-sections directed vertically towards one another.

The two frames 11, 12 are thus constrained for longitudinal movement relative to one another from relative positions in which the free end 15 of the frame 11 lies close to the side limb 22 (this disposition being shown in Figures 1 and 2), to relative positions in which that free end 15 is spaced about 18 inches away from the side limb 22. The free end 16 of the frame 12 is connected to the remote end 17 of the frame 11 by a length of strong elastic cord 18 which urges the two frames 11, 12 relatively towards their first-mentioned relative positions, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The end limb 24 continues across the end of the side limb 22 and the latter is shortened so that its'end abuts against the mouth of the continuation 19 of the guard 21 of the end limb 24. That end of the side limb 22 carries at its upper and lower edges angle girders 31 which extend across the width of that limb and project therefrom for a distance of about half that width towards the other side limb 20. These angle girders 31 each carry two wheels 32, one near each end, which wheels 32 engage within U-section tracks 33 secured to the upper and lower faces of the end limb 24 adjacent to the mouth of that limb. The end 34 of the side limb 22 is thus constrained for movement along the length of the end limb 24 over a distance of about 18 inches. This end 34 of the side limb 22 is connected to a point intermediate in the length of the limb 24 by a length of strong elastic cord 35 which acts to urge the limbs 20, 22 towards one another.

The wheels 13, 32 comprise ball bearings, the outer races of which engage with the tracks 14, 33 and the inner races of which are secured by means of bushes fitting with their inner peripheries. Stops e. g. 36 are pro vided at the ends of the tracks 14, 33 to prevent the two side limbs 20, 22 from moving closer together than a minimum separation determined by the limit of the permissible 18 inches of movement mentioned above, and the two side limbs 20, 22 are constrained by the action of the wheels 13, 32 and tracks 14, 33 to maintain parallel relation during their relative movement. The end 34 of the side limb 22 adjacent to the end limb 24 is shaped as shown in Figure 4 to permit brush devices 37 in the adjacent part of the end limb 24 to pass that end while being rotated, during movement of the side limbs 20, 22 towards one another.

Instead of being attached to the side limbs 20, 22 at fixed points, each suspension rope 301 is attached at its lower end to a device 38 having two equal sized pulley wheels 39 spaced apart perpendicularly to their axes. The pulley wheels 39 are rotatably mounted, between two fiat triangular plates 41, on axles 42 extending between those plates near to their two lower apices respectively. The rope 301 is attached to a similar axle 43 extending between the other apex of the plates 41. The pulleys 39 engage the underside of a bar 44 which is supported, by arms 45 extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper longitudinal edges ofthe limbs 20, 22, so as to extend across and above the width of that limb. The limbs 20, 22 are thereby permitted to move towards and away from one another relatively to the lower ends of the suspension ropes 391. The tendency for the exertion of a force tending to separate, or move together, the limbs 20, 22

when those limbs do not lie vertically below the pulleys 46 from which the ropes 301 depend, is overcome or reduced as the devices 38 at the lower ends of the ropes are free to travel to and fro along the bars 44 by which they support the carrier.

The upper face of the free end of the frame 11 of the front tie member 26 is connected to the upper face of the limb 22 by means of a toggle 51 comprising two toggle arms 52, 53 pivoted end-to-end at 54 and having their free ends pivoted respectively at 55, 56 to the limb 22 and the frame 11. The three pivotal axes 54, 55, 56 are all parallel and horizontal so that the toggle arms 52, 53 move about their pivots in a vertical plane, the central toggle pivot 54 moving upwards when the toggle is broken. When the limbs 21) and 22 are at their maximum separation the central pivot 54 of the toggle 51 lies slightly below the line joining the other two pivots and is prevented from moving lower by engagement of the toggle arm 52 against the upper face of the limb 22. In that position the toggle is over-centered and acts as a strut preventing movement of the limbs 20, 22 towards one another. An identical toggle 57 connects the end limb 24 to the side limb 22. The pivotal connections of the toggles 51, 57 to side limb 22 are eifected by means of a shaft 58 which extends from end-to-en'd of the side limb 22 above the upper face near to its outer longitudinal edge. This shaft 58 is rotatable in bearings 59, by which it is attached to the side limb 22, and the appropriate toggle arms 52 are fast with it for rotation with the shaft 58 to constitute their pivotal connection to the side limb 22.

At the centre of its length the shaft 58 has fast with it a short sleeve 61 carrying two radially extending slightly curved elongated flat plates 62 arranged in spaced parallel relation a short distance from the respective ends of the sleeve 61. These elongated plates 62 constitute a feeler arm 63 and they carry between them at their free end a small roller 64. Two further rollers 65 are carried between plates 60 attached respectively to the two plates 62. The relative radial positions of the feeler arm 63 and the toggles 51, 57 are such that when the toggles 51, 57 are in their over-centred condition (shown in chain lines) the feeler arm 63 is in its detecting position (shown in chain lines), in which it projects substantially horizontally towards the other side limb 20, the curve of the plates 62 forming the feeler arm 63 being such that when the carrier is lowered to embrace a vehicle the roller 64 makes contact with the roof of the vehicle before any other part of the feeler arm 63 can do so. The feeler arm 63 is sufficiently long to be able to detect the presence between the side limbs 20, 22 of any vehicle which is sufliciently wide for the apparatus to clean. The sleeve 61 has slots 66 across one end of it at one diametrical position and that end forms one member of a dog-clutch 67. The other member of the clutch 67 is provided as another sleeve 68, fitted on the shaft 58 and firmly secured thereto in end-to-end relationship to the sleeve 61 and having, at its end adjacent to the sleeve 61, two pro-' arise-sen:

jeetions .69 upstanding at diametrically opposite positions on its end face for engagement within the :slots 66. The sleeve 61 is urged towards the sleeve 68 by a helical spring 71 surrounding the shaft 58 adjacent the other end of the sleeve 61 and having its ends abutting against that end and a third sleeve 72 firmly secured to the shaft 58. The feeler arm 63 has a rearward projection 73 on one of its two constituent plates 62, which projection 73 has an adjustable screw 74 to abut against the outer side face of the limb 22, when the feeler arm .63 is rotated from its detecting position (shown in chain lines) to its retracted position (shown in full lines), in which the roller 64 lies vertically above the limb 22, such abutment preventing rotation of the feeler arm beyond its retracted position. A short stub arm 75 extends outwardly and upwardly from the outer side face of the limb 22 to carry the lower ends of a pair of helical springs 76, the other ends of which are attached to the feeler arin 63 about one third of the way of its length from the shaft 58 so as to rotate the feeler arm 63 to its retracted position when the toggles 51 and 57 are broken and the clutch 67 is disengaged.

The sleeve 61 has a cam member 81 secured to it and extending around just over one quarter of its peripheral length, between the feeler arm plates 62. The cam member 81 has at one end one corner cut away at 77 to provide a fiat cam face 82, hereinafter referred to as the forward cam face, the adjacent side part 83 of the cam memher being referred to as the side cam face. At the other end of the cam member a part of its peripheral face is chamfered away, the chamfered face 84 being hereinafter referred to as the aft cam face. The thin end of the cam member having the aft cam face 84 lies beneath the axis of the shaft 58 when the feeler arm 63 is in its retracted position. The other end .85 of the cam member lies beneath-the axis of the shaft 58 when the feeler arm is in its detecting position. On a bracket 86 attached to the limb 22 is carried a retractable abutment pin 87 which projects upward for engagement with the cam faces as hereinafter described and is retractable downwards into a socket 88, against the action of a supporting spring 89 therein, when axial downward pressure is applied to the upper end of the pin 87.

In the operation of the apparatus the carrier descends from a storage position close beneath the roof or other superstructure, with its side limbs 20, 22 at their maximum separation and with the toggles 51, 57 made" to hold them at that separation, the feeler arm 63 being in its detecting position. The abutment pin 87 is received at this time within the cut away part 77 of the cam member 81. When the vehicle is embraced between the side limbs 20, 22 the feeler arm 63 engages against the roof of the vehicle, and on further downward movement of the carrier the feeler arm '63 is rotated, by its engagement with the vehicle roof, to break the toggles 51, 57. The forward cam face 82 then engages against the side of the abutment pin 87 and serves, on continued rotation of the feeler arm, to move the sleeve 61 and feeler arm axially of the shaft 58 to dis-engage the clutch 67. The feeler arm then moves to its retracted position under the action of the springs 76, the side face 83 of the cam member riding against the pin until the feeler arm is nearly to its retracted position whereupon the aft cam face 84 of the cam member comes near to the pin 87 and permits the sleeve 61 and the feeler arm to move back axially under action of the spring 71 to let the projections 69 of the clutch 67 ride over the end face 70 of the other clutch member 61. The clutch 67 cannot however become reengaged because the slots 66 are not aligned with the projections 69. The elastic cords 18, 35 cause relative movement of the side arms 2.41, 22 towards one another until rollers 91 on the inner edges of the limbs 20, 22 engage with the sides of the vehicle. The carrier completes its descent then rises again during which time the wiper devices clean the vehicle. After passing beyond, the upperextremity of the vehicle the side limbs 20, 22

move "to :their minimum separation eunder {the action of the :elastic ncords 18, 35. :When the barrier approaches the roof or other superstructure, the feeler zarm rollers 64, 65 engage against a suitable positioned metal plate 92 which acts as a ramp to rotate the feeler *arm63 back to it's detecting position during the final upward movement .of the carrier. This rotation of the feeler arm .63 serves to bring the projections 69 of the clutch 67 into line with the slots 66 thereof to r e-engage the clutch 67 and then :to' actuate the toggles '51, 57 to move the side limbs 29, 22 to their maximum separationandto make the toggles :51, -57 to hold them at that separation. During this rotation of the feeler arm 63 the aft cam face 84 engages .the end of the pin to retract it to permit the cam member 81 to pass freely'over it until it is re-lifted by its spring 89 as soon as the cam member 81 permits it to enter the cutaway part 77 thereof.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing example. For instance, any other suitable detector means may be employed e. g. a beam of light 101 directed from a lamp 102 on one of the two spaced limbs 20, 22 to a photoelectric cell 103 on the other, suitable electrical devices 164 being provided to operate the other parts of the apparatus accordingly when the beam of light 101 is interrupted by a vehicle.

Two spaced limbs, 129, '122 (Figure 9) as aforesaid, connected by side limbs .124, 126, may 'be arranged to lie at opposite ends of the vehicle instead of at the sides, in order that vehicles of various length may be cleaned. The side limb 126 comprises :two frames 111, 112, constructed and arranged as the frames '11, 12 of Figures 1 to 7. The upper face of the free end of the frame 111 of the side limb 126 is connected to the upper face of the limb 122 by means of a toggle 151 comprising toggle arms 152, 153 pivoted end-to-end at 154 and having their free ends pivoted respectively at 155, 156 to the limb 122 and the frame 111. The toggle 151 is identical to the toggle 51 shown in Figures 1 to 7. "An identical toggle 157 connects the side limb 124 to the end limb 122. The pivotal connections of the toggles 1'51, 157 to the end limb 122 are effected by means of a shaft 158 which extends from end-to-end of the end limb 122 above the upper face near to its outer longitudinal edge. This shaft 158 is rotatable in bearings 159, by which it is attached to the end limb 122, and the appropriate toggle ar'm 152 'is fast with it for rotation with the shaft 158 to constitute their pivotal connection to the end limb 122.

At the center of its length the shaft 158 has fast with it a short sleeve 161 carrying two radially extending slightly :curved elongated fiat plates 162 arranged in spaced parallel relation a short distance from the respective ends of the sleeve 161. These elongated plates 162 constitute a feeler arm 163 identical with the feeler arm 63 shown in Figures 1 to 7, the plates 162 carrying between them at their free ends a roller 164. The feeler arm 163 is arranged to operate the toggles 151, 157 through a clutch precisely as described with reference to, and shown in, Figures 1 to 7.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for cleaning vehicles, which apparatus comprises in combination a carrier comprising two horizontally spaced limbs, between which .a vehicle may be received for cleaning, one or more cleaning devices carried by each limb, at least one tie member of continuously variable length connecting the two spaced limbs substantially at one pair of corresponding ends thereof, means urging the two spaced limbs towards one another, whereby the two spaced limbs may be maintained in close relation to the vehicle so that the cleaning devices may act thereon, suspension means for suspending the carrier from a superstructure lying above the top of the vehicle, which suspension means are operable to effect vertical movements of the carrier while the cleaning devices act 'on the vehicle, holding means for holding the two spaced limbs apart, against the action of the urging means, in relative positions in which they have a maximum distance of separation, detector means for detecting the presence of a vehicle between the two spaced limbs, means operated by the detector means to render the holding means in operative so that the two spaced limbs may adopt a lesser relative distance of separation determined by the vehicle between them, and means for moving the two spaced limbs relatively apart to their said relative positions of maximum separation and for rendering the holding means operative when the carrier moves to a position beyond a vertical extremity of the vehicle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said detector means comprise a feeler arm pivoted to the carrier and rotatable about its pivot to and from a detecting position in which it projects partly across the space between the two spaced limbs.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, comprising connecting means connecting said suspension means to the two spaced limbs, which connecting means permit movement of the two spaced limbs, in the direction of separation thereof, relative-to the suspension means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising two tie members each tie member being constituted by at least one rigid elongated member connected to the two spaced limbs by connecting means which permit the said rigid member to move longitudinally relative to at least one of the two spaced limbs, thereby providing continuous variation in length as aforesaid, said rigid members constituting cross-limbs extending between the two spaced limbs, and the two cross-limbs being substantially at the opposite ends of the two spaced limbs respectively.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the said connecting means comprise wheels and tracks, and means for constraining the wheels to run on the tracks.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least one cleaning device is carried by at least one of the crosslimbs.

7. Apparatus for cleaning vehicles, which apparatus comprises in combination a carrier comprising two horizontally spaced limbs, between which a vehicle may be received for cleaning, one or more cleaning devices carried by each limb, at least one tie member of continuously variable length connecting the two spaced limbs substantially at one pair of corresponding ends thereof, means urging the two spaced limbs towards one another, whereby the two spaced limbs may be maintained in close relation to the vehicle so that the cleaning devices may act thereon, suspension means for suspending the carrier from a superstructure lying above the top of the vehicle, which suspension means are operable to en ect vertical movements of the carrier while the cleaning devices act on the vehicle, an over-centred toggle m .ism for holding the two spaced limbs apart, against the action of the urging means, in relative positions in which they have a maximum distance of separation, a feeler arm pivoted to the carrier and rotatable about its pivot to and from a detecting position in which it projects partly across the space between the two spaced limbs, whereby when the carrier is moved vertically from beyond a vertical extremity of a vehicle to receive the vehicle between the two spaced limbs the feeler arm is engaged by the vehicle and is rotated about its pivot by the said engagement, connecting means connecting the feeler arm and the to gle mechanism for breaking the toggle on rotation of the feeler arm by engagement with a vehicle as aforesaid; the said con necting means including a clutch, between the feeler arm and the toggle mechanism, means for dis-engaging the clutch after the toggle has been broken, while the vehicle is between the two spaced limbs, and re-setting means for re-engaging the clutch and for operating the feeler arm to remake the toggle after the carrier has moved to a position beyond a vertical extremity of the vehi le. 8.: Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cleanng means comprise rotary wiper devices and means for rotatlng said wiper devices.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein means are provided for rotating the feeler arm about its pivot out of engagement with the vehicle while the clutch is dis-en gaged.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the resetting means comprise an abutment engageable by the feeler arm, on movement of the carrier beyond a vertical extremity of the vehicle, whereby the feeler arm is rotated to its detecting position.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the clutch is a dog clutch comprising two members one of which members has at least one projection and the other of which members has at least one slot, means urging the said projection and said slot into inter-engagement when the feeler arm has been rotated to bring the projection into alignment with the slot, whereby rotation thereafter of the feeler arm about its pivot operates the toggle mechanism to cause relative movement of the two spaced limbs to assume their said maximum distance of separation and to remake the toggle, and wherein means are provided for rendering the cam means ineifective during rotation of the feeler arm by the re-setting means, thereby permitting inter-engagement of the projection and slot as aforesaid.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the clutch comprises two co-operating members, and the means for dis-engaging the clutch comprise cam means operable to move one member of the clutch away from the other on continued rotation of the feeler arm as aforesaid after the toggle has been broken.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein one member of the clutch is carried by the feeler arm for rotation therewith about its pivot, the cam means are operable to disengage the clutch by moving the feeler arm axially of its pivot, and a spring acts to urge the feeler arm axially of its pivot in the reverse direction.

14. Apparatus for cleaning vehicles, which apparatus comprises in combination a carrier comprising two horizontally-spaced limbs, between which a vehicle may be received for cleaning, one or more cleaning devices carried by each limb, at least one tie member of continuously variable length connecting the two spaced limbs substantially at one pair of corresponding ends thereof, means urging the two spaced limbs towards one another, whereby the two spaced limbs may be maintained in close relation to the vehicle so that the cleaning devices may act thereon, suspension means for suspending the carrier from a superstructure lying above the top of the vehicle, which suspension means are operable to effect vertical movements of the carrier while the cleaning devices act on the vehicle, an over-centered toggle mechanism for holding the two spaced limbs apart, against the action of the urging means, in relative positions in which they have a maximum distance of separation, a feeler arm pivoted to the carrier and rotatable about its pivot to and from a detecting position in which it projects partly across the space between the two spaced limbs, whereby when the is rotated about its pivot by the said engagement connectlng means connecting the feeler arm and the toggle 15. Apparatus for cleaning vehicles, which apparatus comprises in combination i whereby the two spaced limbs may be maintained in close relation to the vehicle so that the cleaning devices may act thereon, suspension means for suspending the carrier from a superstructure lying above the top of the vehicle, which suspension means are operable to effect vertical movements of the carrier while the cleaning devices act on the vehicle, an over-centered toggle mechanism for holding the two spaced limbs apart, against the action of the urging means, in relative positions in which they have a maximum distance of separation, detector means for detecting the presence of a vehicle between the spaced limbs, toggle-operating means responsive to the detector means and for breaking the toggle when said detector means detects the presence of a vehicle between the spaced limbs, and re-making-means for re-making the toggle after the carrier has moved to a position beyond the vertical extremity of the vehicle.

16. Apparatus for cleaning vehicles, which apparatus comprises in combination a carrier comprising two horizontally-spaced limbs, between which a vehicle may be received for cleaning, one or more cleaning devices carried by each limb, at least one tie member of continuously variable length connecting the two spaced limbs substantially at one pair of corresponding ends thereof, means urging the two spaced limbs towards one another, whereby the two spaced limbs may be maintained in close relation to the vehicle so that the cleaning devices may act thereon, suspension means for suspending the carrier from a superstructure lying above the top of the vehicle, which suspension means are operable to efiect vertical movements of the carrier while the cleaning devices act on the vehicle, an over-centered toggle mechanism for holding the two spaced limbs apart, against the action of the urging means, in relative positions in which they have a maximum distance of separation, a feeler arm pivoted to the carrier and rotatable about its pivot to and from a detecting position in which it projects partly across the space between the two spaced limbs, whereby when the carrier is moved vertically from beyond a vertical extremity of a vehicle to receive the vehicle between the two spaced limbs the feeler arm is engaged by the vehicle and is rotated about its pivot by the said engagement, disengageable connecting means connecting the feeler arm and the toggle mechanism for breaking the toggle on rotation of the feeler arm by engagement with a vehicle as aforesaid, means for disengaging said connecting means after the toggle has been broken, while the vehicle is between the two spaced limbs, and re-setting means for reengaging said connecting means and for operating the feeler arm to re-make the toggle after the carrier has moved to a position beyond a vertical extremity of the vehicle.

17. Apparatus for cleaning vehicles, which apparatus comprises in combination a carrier comprising two horizontally-spaced limbs, between which a vehicle may be received for cleaning, one or more cleaning devices carried by each limb, at least one tie member of continuously variable length connecting the two spaced limbs substantially at one pair of corresponding ends thereof, means urging the two spaced limbs towards one another,

whereby the two spaced limbs may be maintained in close relation to the vehicle so that the cleaning devices may act thereon, suspension means for suspending the carrier from a superstructure lying above the top of the vehicle, which suspension means are operable to effect vertical movements of the carrier while the cleaning devices act on the vehicle, an over-centered toggle mechanism for holding the two spaced limbs apart, against the action of the urging means, in relative positions in which they have a maximum distance of separation, detector means for detecting the presence of a vehicle between the two spaced limbs, means operated by said detector means to break the toggle when said detector means detects the presence of a vehicle between the limbs so that the two spaced limbs may adopt a lesser relative distance of separation determined by the vehicle between them, and means for moving the two spaced limbs relatively apart to their said relative positions of maximum separation and for re-making the toggle when the carrier moves to a position beyond a vertical extremity of the vehicle.

18. Apparatus for cleaning vehicles, which apparatus comprises in combination a carrier comprising two horizontally-spaced limbs, between which a vehicle may be received for cleaning, one or more cleaning devices carried by each limb, at least one tie member of continuously variable length connecting the two spaced limbs substantially at one pair of. corresponding ends thereof, means urging the two spaced limbs towards one another, whereby the two spaced limbs may be maintained in close relation to the vehicle so that the cleaning devices may act thereon, suspension means for suspending the carrier from a superstructure lying above the top of the vehicle, which suspension means are operable to effect vertical movements of the carrier while the cleaning devices act on the vehicle, holding means for holding the two spaced limbs apart, against the action of the urging means, in relative positions in which they have a maximum distance of separation, a feeler arm pivoted to the carrier and rotatable about its pivot to and from a detecting position in which it projects partly across the space between the two spaced limbs, whereby when the carrier is moved vertically from beyond a vertical extremity of a vehicle to receive the vehicle between the two spaced limbs the feeler arm is engaged by the vehicle and is rotated about its pivot by the said engagement, means operated by the feeler arm to render the holding means inoperative so that the two spaced limbs may adopt lesser relative distance of separation determined by the vehicle between them, and means for moving the two spaced limbs relatively apart to their said relative positions of maximum separation and for rendering the holding means operative when the carrier moves to a position beyond a vertical extremity of the vehicle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Morison Jan. 29, 1952 

